Safety catch for wrist watch bands, bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry



June 23,1936. E. M, ALKIQ 2,044,869

SAFETY CATCH FOR WRIST WATCH BANDS, BRACELETS, NECKLACES, AND OTHER JEWELRY Filed July 26, 1935 INVENTOR EMANUEL M. ALKIN BY W g fif T oRNEY Patented June 23, 1936- UNITED STATES 2,044,869 SAFETY CATCH FOR- wmsr WATCH BANDS,

BRACELETS, JEWELRY NECKLACES, AND OTHER Emanuel M. Alkin, New York, N. Y., assignor g! Morays Watch Case 00., Inc., New York,

'Application July 26, 1935, Serial No. 33,208: .5 Claims. (01. 24-265) This invention relates to new and provements ina safety catch for wrist watch bands, bracelets, necklaces; and other jewelry.

.The invention has for an object the construction of a safety catch as mentioned which is characterized by a central body and inner and outer catch leaves associated therewith in a novel manner.

More particularly, it is proposed that the inner catch leaf be pivotally mounted on the central body and extendible over the bar portions of a link of a chain for the wrist bracelet or other object, and associated with a means by which it is held closed on the central body. v

Still further the invention contemplates the provision of a means for holding the outer catch leaf closed over the inner catch leaf so as to reinforce the holding thereof and insure against the accidental opening of the catch.

Another one of the objects of this invention relates to the specific means by which the inner catch leaf is latched to the central body.

invention it is proposed to utilize a bolt element slidably arranged on the inner catch link and maintained frictionally in various adjusted positions by a novel construction, and adapted to cooperate with a portion of the central body to hold the inner catch leaf in its In one form of the closed position.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a. reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disc1osure:---

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a safety'catch constructed according to this invention and associated with a pair of links from the chain of a wrist bracelet or other piece of jewelry.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of Fig. 2, the device being shown with the outer catch leafl opened.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view as though taken on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 3, but showing the device with both catch leaves open".

Fig. 5 is a sectional view simil ar to Fig. 4 but 1 illustrating the device with both catch leaves closed.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the inner catch leaf per se. 7 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the central body per se.

the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

useful im- Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on Fig. 9 Ba view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a modified form of the device.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the inner catch Y leaf of the device shown in Fig. 9.

The safety catch, according to this invention,

comprises a central body Ill, links H from the chain of a bracelet or other piece of jewelry, and inner and outer catch leaves I 2 and {3, respectively, associated with the central body and the links in a specific relation.

More particularly, the inner catch leaf l2, at the inner end thereof, has a trunnion M which engages a pair of lugs IE on the sides of the central body H). The inner catch link I2 is adapted to be extended over a bar I 6 of one of the links I I The central body in has side walls Ill which are slightly spaced from the lugs l5. It is in these spaces, indicated by reference numerals IT, in which the transverse bar l6 of the link is disposed. The catch leaf is extended over the bar it when closed, and is disposed in between the side walls I0 of the central body.

The means for latching the inner catch leaf in its closed position comprises a bolt element l8 slidably mounted on the inner catch leaf and adapted to coact with a portion of the central body. This portion consists of a lip I 9 extended from an end wall ,20- of the central body. The bolt element I8 has a front lip portion [8 spaced from the leaf l2 so that the portion l9 may be engaged between these parts. The bolt element l8 has a pair of prong portions lllewhich engage around the sides of the catch leaf l2, frictionally engaging these sides and thus maintaining stationary positions. The catch leaf l2 itself is formed with a longitudinal slot 22 extended in from the free end and terminating a slight distance before the inner end. thereof. This slot gives resiliency to the catch link, that is, the side portions thereof have a spring to them.- The lugs I 8 force the side portions of the catch leaf together, and thus the frictional resistance is generated.

The other link II has its transverse bar l6 extending through a space beneath the lip l9 and between the end wall 20 and the side walls I0 of the central body. Thus, this link is also pivotally connected with the central body. It should be noted that this link may not be removed as the transverse bar i6 is held against displacement. The other link ll may be removed over the catch leaf I! when the latter is inits open position.

The outer catch leaf l3 comprises a bottom wall l3 from which an outer end hook 24 projects. This hook is adapted to engage over the innerend of the catch leaf I2 when the latter is in the closed position, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The outer catch leaf l3 also has side walls 25 to reinforce it. These walls 25 termileaf l3 by which it may be easily gripped when in the closed position so it may be opened.

The links ll form no part of the invention, but to assist in a better understanding of the invention they will be briefly described. Each link consists of a channel-shaped body portion ll in which there is engaged a channel-shaped jaw li This jaw has a trunnion H onits inner end pivotally mounted on the side walls of the body Il The jaw ll is formed with teeth 30 adapted to cooperate with complementary teeth 3| upon the body ll by which a bracelet cord may be clamped thereon. Small protuberances 32 are formed on the side walls and jaw II and coact with niches 33 formed in the side walls of the body II, by which the jaw is held closed. The body II"- has side arms 33. The transverse bar I6 is mounted between the side arms 33.

.In Figs. 8 and 9 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed which is very similar to the previous form, distinguishing merely in the means by which the inner catch leaf I2 is latched in the closed position. According to this form of the invention, lugs 3'! are formed on the sides of the catch leaf I2. These lugs have small protuberances 38 adapted to engage small niches 39 in the side walls I0 of the central body portion. When the inner. catch leaf I2 is moved to the closed position the projections 38 and the niches 39 will hold the leaf in the closed position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A safety catch of the class described, comprising a central body, links with bar portions, an inner catch leaf pivotally mounted on one end of said body and extendible over the bar portion on one of said links, means on the central body and said inner catch leaf for holding the inner catch leaf closed, another one of said links and an outer catch leaf pivotally mounted on the other end of said body, and means for holding the outer catch leaf closed over said innercatch leaf, said means for holding the inner catch leaf closed comprising a bolt element slidable on the inner catch leaf and engageable with a portion of said central body.

2. A safety catch of the class described, comprising a central body, links with bar portions, an inner catch leaf pivotally mounted on one end of said body and extendible over the bar portion on one of said links, means on the central body and said inner catch leaf for holding the inner catch leaf closed, another one of said links and an outer catch leaf pivotally mounted on the other end of said body, and means for holding the outer catch leaf closed over said inner catch leaf, said means for holding the inner catch leaf closed comprisinga bolt element slidable on the inner catch leaf and engageable with a portion of said central. body, said portion comprising a lip formed from an end wall of said central body.

3. A safety catch of the class described, comprising a central body, links with bar portions, an inner catch leaf pivotally mounted on one end of said body and extendible over the bar portion on one of said links, means on the central body and said inner catch leaf for holding the inner catch leaf closed, another one of said links and an outer catch leaf pivotally mounted on the other end of said body, and means for holding the outer catch leaf closed over said inner catch leaf, said means for holding the inner catch leaf closed comprising a bolt element slidable on the inner catch leaf and engageable with a portion of said central body, said portion comprising a lip formed from an end wall of said central body, said bolt being adapted to engage beneath the lip while the catch leaf extends over the lip.

4. A safety catch of the class described, comprising a central body, links with bar portions, an inner catch leaf pivotally mounted on one end of said body and extendible over the bar portion on one of said links, means on the central body and said inner catch leaf for holding the inner catch leaf closed, another one of said links and an outer catch leaf pivotally mounted on the other end of said body, and means for holding the outer catch leaf closed over said inner catch leaf, said means for holding the inner catch leaf closed comprising a bolt element slidable on the inner catch leaf and engageable with a portion of said central body, said portion comprising a lip formed from an end wall of said central body, said bolt being adapted to engage beneath the lip while the catch leaf extends over the lip, saidbolt having prong portions extending over the sides of the catch leaf for fricti'onally holding the bolt in adjusted positions.

5. A safety catch of the class described, comprising a central body, links with bar portions, an inner catch leaf pivotally mounted on one end of said body and extendible over the bar portion on one of said links, means on the central body and said inner catch leaf for holding the inner catch leaf closed, another one of said links and an. outer catch leaf pivotally mounted on the other end of said body, and means for holding the outer catch leaf closed over said inner catch leaf, said means for holding the inner catch leaf closed comprising a bolt element slidable on the inner catch leaf and engageable with a portion of said central body, said portion comprising a lip formed from an endwall of said central body, said bolt being adapted to engage beneath the lip while the catch leaf extends over the lip, said bolt having prong portions extending over the sides of the catch leaf for frictionally holding the bolt in adjusted positions, and said catch leaf having a longitudinal slot to give the side portions thereof suficient springiness to cooperate with said prongs for holding the bolt. 

